Record turnout expected at Hungary’s anti-refugee referendum

And the result is expected to be an overwhelming victory for the country’s hard-line Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been leading the ‘keep them out’ campaign.

And now a survey reveals a record 75 per cent of people have said they are very likely to take part in the Brexit-inspired plebiscite, scheduled to take place on October 2.

Anti-immigrant leader Mr Orban has urged his country to say ‘no’ to all migrants after hailing Britain’s momentous vote to Leave the European Union as the nation “taking back its island”.

He called for a nationwide referendum after the EU announced its migrant quota plans to resettle 160,000 Syrian refugees among the existing member states.

The people of Hungary will be asked if they want to accept any future EU mandatory quota system for resettling migrants.

Mr Orban said: “We don’t want to change the character of our country.

“We want to remain Hungarian, to keep our religious and ethnic composition. That view isn’t popular in Europe nowadays, at least among politicians.

“They want to force rules on member states that are in conflict with their interests, including Hungary’s. We are preparing for a conflict.”

Ever since the migrant crisis erupted last year, with more than one million refugees pouring into Europe, Hungary has taken a robust stance on defending its borders.

The country was on a direct Balkans route used by migrants to make their way from Greece and into Serbia and Croatia.

In response, tough-talking Mr Orban insisted enough was enough and ordered his borders with Serbia and Croatia to be shut.

Razor wire fences were erected along the border, forming a 108mile bench and the number of border forces along the Serbian crossing more than doubled.

But this hasn’t stopped people making the perilous journey – Hungary has registered more than 19,000 asylum applications this year and it’s believed more than 14,000 migrants have crossed its southern borders illegally.

A recent survey shows 73 per cent of supporters of Hungary’s Conservative Party, Fidesz, are expected to turn out to have their say at the historic referendum.

While, 57 per cent of Jobbik voters, from Hungary’s radical nationalist party, will flock to the polls.